stull



March 10, 1964 M. B. STULL 3,

CLOSURE CAP CONSTRUCTION Filed June a, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Ala/ Z0 B. fituZZ United States Patent 3,124,281 CLOSURE CAPCGNSTRUCTIUN Morton B. Stall, gtull Engraving Co., 221-223 Banta Ave,Garfield, NJ. Filed James, 1961, Ser. No. 115,720 11 Claims. (Q1.22.2-d2) This invention relates to closure caps, and more particularlyto small resilient plastic caps which are adapted to be used withbottles, vials, small cans and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved resilient,plastic closure cap construction wherein there is had an eifective,advantageous double seal between the cap body and the container neck.

Another object of the invention is to provide a twopiece resilientclosure cap of the general type mentioned, wherein a desirable andeifective double seal is had between the cap body portion and thecooperable closure or stopper portion.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel combination ofthe two cap constructions as set forth above which effect multipledouble seals, thereby to insure against leakage from a container to themaximum extent.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel multiplesealing cap construction wherein the various sealing portions orelements of the cap body constitute different parts of a common innersealing wall area, thereby further to minimize the likelihood ofleakage.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novelmultiple-seal type cap construction wherein a portion of the seal iseffected by an inner annular flexible or resilient member constituted asa depending skirt, the organization being such that the said skirt hasthe maximum degree of resilience while at the same time retaining itsshape to the extent necessary to carry out the desired sealing function.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of a multiple-sealtype cap body and stopper construction, wherein the stopper portion hasa pair of sealing components so arranged and organized as to facilitatethe application of the stopper by providing a guide means associatedwith the sealing elements, and by arranging for a sequential sealingaction so as to minimize resistance to application of the closureportion, thus resulting in an easy sealing or closing action.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of an improvedmultiple seal cap construction having the above attributes andadvantages and which is nevertheless extremely simple, fool-proof andreliable in its operation, and economical to mold or fabricate.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings accompanying this specification, similar characters areused to designate like components throughout the several views, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is an axial sectional view of an improved closure capconstruction as provided by the invention, shown in closed condition andmounted on the neck portion of a container, such constructionconstituting one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an axial sectional view of the cap construction of FIG. 1 asit comes from the molds, prior to being closed and attached to thecontainer.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the cap construction shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an axial sectional view of a cap construction as provided bythe invention, shown in closed condition and mounted on the neck portionof a container. The construction of FIG. 4 constitutes anotherembodiment of the invention.

I 3,124,281 Patented Mar. 10, 1964 FIG. 5 is an axial sectional view ofthe cap construction of FIG. 4 as it comes from the molds and prior tobeing closed and attached to the container.

Referring first to FIGS. 1-3, the novel cap construction shown thereincomprises essentially two distinct portions, a cap body portionindicated generally by the numeral 1t) and a stopper of closure portiondesignated as 12. Preferably the cap body portion 10 and stopper portion12 are molded at one and the same time, being permanently joined by aflexible thin connector or web M whereby the stopper portion is heldcaptive on the cap body. Captive closures wherein a stopper portion issecured to a cap body portion by a thin flexible web are already wellknown in the art, and no claim is made herein to this broad generalcombination.

The cap body portion 10 is shown in FIG. 1 as being mounted on orcarried by the neck portion 16 of a container or bottle 18, the mountingarrangement shown being known as a snap bead securement or retention, asdistinguished from a screw threaded fastening means such as has beenemployed in the past on great quantities of containers. It should beunderstood, however, that the invention is not limited to a snap beadretention but instead has utility with threaded container necks orvarious other types of securing means.

In accordance with the present invention, an improved and advantageousseal is effected between the cap body portion 16) and the neck 16 of thecontainer 18. Such double seal involves sealing means engaged with boththe inner and outer surfaces of the container neck, in conjunction witha special, novel reinforcing or backing means associated with the innersealing component, as will shortly be described.

The cap body portion 10 is seen as comprising an annular outer resilientdepending skirt 20 which is adapted to extend around the container neck16, said skirt having an inner annular detent and retention bead 22arranged for engagement 'with the exterior of the neck 16. The containerneck 16 may have a pair of spaced annular external sealing beals 24 and26 as shown in FIG. 1, these being adapted to engage the inner wall ofthe depending skirt 2d. The beads 22 and 24 cooperate to retain the capbody portion 1% on the container neck 16 by virtue of the obstructioneifected thereby, as will be readily understood. In applying the capbody portion 10 to the container neck 16, the resilience of thedepending skirt 2% of the cap body portion provides a yielding action bywhich the inner detent or retention head 22 is enabled to bypass andride over the outward facing detent and sealing bead 24.

By the invention, the cap body portion 10 further has an inner annularwall 28 and a backing-up or reinforcing transverse bottom wall 30 whichis connected to and disposed inwardly of the lower portion of the innerwall 23. The walls 28 and 30 together define an outwardly opening recess32, the construction being such that the annular inner Wall 28 has asmaller inside diameter at the mouth of the recess as shown, than theinner diameter at the bottom portion of the recess.

Also, in accordance with the invention, the depending annular inner wall28, which is seen as being spaced inwardly from the outer annulardepending skirt 20 of the cap body portion 10 has an outwardly facing annular sealing bead or bearing surface 34 arranged for engagement withthe inside of the container neck 16. It will now be seen that by theabove construction the transverse bottom wall 30 of the recess 32constitutes a backing or reinforcing means for the inner annular sealingwall 28 whereby the latter is stiflened an extent, enabling it to moreforcibly grip and engage the inner surface of the container neck 16,thereby to provide a more effective seal therewith. This seal, inconjunction with the sealing action of the internal and external beads22, 24 and 26 above described, constitutes a multiple-seal at the mouthof the container 18, which has been found to be extremely effective andreliable notwithstanding its simplicity. A sloping camming edge or area36 is provided at the bottom of the inner annular depending wall 28 toconstitute a guide means by which the lip or edge of the bottle neck 16may be more readily forced over and around the annular sealing wall 28.

The bottom wall 30 of the recess has or carries a discharge orificeportion 38 which has a tubular or cylindrical configuration and furthercomprises an outwardly flaring lower portion 40 which is joined to thetransverse bottom wall 30 as shown. The discharge orifice portion 38 hasa discharge passage or bore 42 which is controlled as to its diameter,and is preferably provided with a dripless lip or tip portionconstituted as an outwardly extending annular flange 44, as shown.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cap body portion further comprises anannular or ring-shaped top wall portion 46 which joins together theupper edges or portions of the outer skirt and the inner annular sealingwall 28. A generous radius 48 is provided at the inner peripheralportion of the top wall 46, to constitute a leading surface for adepending sealing skirt shortly to be described, which comprises part ofthe stopper portion 12 of the cap construction.

Similarly a generous radius 50 is provided at the inner periphery of theanti-drip flange 44, to provide a lead-in or guide for a sealing plugshortly to be described, which constitutes another sealing means of thestopper portion 12.

For cooperation with the novel cap body construction 10 described abovethere is provided a novel structure or organization comprising thestopper portion 12, the

said organization having a resilient depending sealing skirt 54 which isadapted to be retained in the recess 32 of the cap body portion 10, andhaving a sealing plug 56 which is concurrently receivable in the orificeportion 38, thereby to enable a double seal to be effected when thestopper portion 12 is put in place on the cap body portion 10 asillustrated in FIG. 1.

The stopper portion 12 further comprises a generally flat top wall 58 bywhich the sealing skirt 54 is joined to the sealing plug 56, and thelower edge of the skirt 54 is provided with an external detent head 60which is adapted to be nested in the lower portion of the recess 32 ofthe cap body portion 10.

During application of the stopper portion 12 to the cap body portion 10the resilient skirt 54 and bead 60 are radially shifted inward andcircumferentially reduced in dimension temporarily, as will beunderstood. The intimate engagement between the wall of the dependingsealing skirt 54 and the mouth portion of reduced diameter of theannular wall 28 constitutes an effective seal. Where the container hasslight internal pressures, the seal is further enhanced since anypressure existing within the skirt 54 such as might be occasioned byslight leakage of the contents of the container through the centralpassage or bore 42 and past the plug 56, will increase the force of theengagement between such skirt 54 and wall 28. This second sealconstitutes an important feature of the invention, by which a secure andreliable overall seal of the contents of the container is had at alltimes, even when there is increased pressure existing in the container.

-At the same time, the head 60 on the skirt 54 constitutes an effectivedetent means which retains the stopper portion 12 in its closingposition against accidental removal therefrom. Besides the seal effectedby the skirt 54, the plug 56 has a press-fit in the bore 42 of theorifice portion 38, thereby to also constitute an effective primary orinitial seal.

Considering FIGS. 1 and 2, the stopper portion 12 further has adepending outwardly flared flange 64 extending from the peripheral outerportion of the flat top wall 58 downward and outward so as to engage theupper peripheral portion of the top wall 46 of the cap body 10. Suchconstruction provides an effective dust guard, keeping out dirt andother foreign matter. It will be understood that the flange 64 issomewhat resilient, and may engage the cooperable peripheral edge of thecap body 10 under continuous pressure, thereby to provide a desirablemechanical closure. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connecting web 14 ispreferably secured to a lower peripheral portion of the flange 64 andalso to the bottom edge of the depending skirt 20 of the cap bodyportion 10.

A closure cap construction as thus provided by the invention andillustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 is now seen to have a number ofadvantages. It provides multiple double seals, there being a double sealbetween the cap body portion 16 and the container neck 16 as well as adouble seal between the stopper portion 12 and the cap body portion 10.Moreover, the sealing arrangement which embraces the bore 42 of theorifice 38, the sealing head 34 of the wall 23, and the sealing bead 22and inner surfaces of the skirt 20 involves all inner, continuous orunbroken wall areas of the cap body portion 10. That is, the abovementioned sealing components constitute parts of the unbroken inner wallarea of the cap body portion 10, whereby the likelihood of leakage isgreatly minimized by virtue of the continuity of such inner wallarea.

It will be noted that the wall section at the base of the dependingsealing skirt 54 where such skirt joins the flat top wall 58 of thestopper portion 12 is relatively thin, and is devoid of any stiffeningmeans. In consequence, the sealing skirt 54 is characterized byappreciable resilience or flexibility, thereby facilitating theapplication of the stopper portion 12 to the cap body portion 10. Thegenerous radius 50 at the mouth of the orifice 38, and the generousradius 48 at the mouth of the recess 22 constitute an effective guidemeans, in conjunction with the rounded bottom edges of the plug 56 andskirt 54, thereby facilitating placement of the stopper portion 12 onthe cap body portion 10. The center location of the sealing plug 56 alsofacilitates the application of the closure portion 12, the cap bodyportion 10.

Further, it will be observed that the organization and structure of thestopper portion 12 as it involves the plug 56 and skirt 54 is such, inconjunction with the orifice 58 and the recess 32, that the lower bead60 of the depending skirt 54 is first to come into engagement with thecap body portion, and only thereafter does the plug 56 become engaged.In consequence, this sequential engagement makes it easier to apply andpush completely downward the stopper portion 12 on the cap body portionIt), minimizing the likelihood of improper application of the stopperand an improper ineffective seal.

The closure construction is seen to be extremely simple in itsconstruction, easily and quickly molded and fabricated, and has beenfound to be reliable and effective in its operation.

A modification of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. Thismodification also provides a double seal between the cap body portion ofthe construction and the container neck, as well as a double sealbetween the stopper portion and the cap body portion. Essentially thedifferences between the construction of FIGS. 4 and 5 and that of FIGS.1, 2 and 3 reside in the orifice portion 38a of FIGS. 4 and 5 beingshorter or less high than the orifice portion 38 with a correspondingreduction in the length or depth of the sealing skirt 54a as comparedwith the skirt 54 of the previous figures. It will be noted from FIGS. 4and 5 that the outer edge of the orifice 38a is at the same level as thetop or outermost portions of the depending skirt 20a. Further, theorifice portion 38a has a small depending annular flange 68 whichextends downwardly and inwardly, and accord ingly constricts or reducesthe discharge passage 42a;

whereby a lesser flow or rate of discharge is had of the contents of thecontainer 18. By such construction, any desired narrowing or reducing ofthe size of the discharge passage may be had Without requiring a changein the sealing diameters of the plug 566:, wall 38a, skirt 54:! etc.

Components and portions in FIGS. 4 and 5 which are similar generally tocorresponding components or portions in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 have been givenlike characters, with the added letter a. The functioning of the closureconstruction of FIGS. 4 and 5 is accordingly seen to be in generalsimilar to that already described above in connection with FIGS. 1, 2and 3, and it is considered that further detailed description isunnecessary. The cap body portion Itia has components or elements 14a,Zita,

22a, 28a, 30a, 32a, 34a, 36a, 38a, 4%, 42a, 46a, Stla which aregenerally similar and function in a like manner respectively to theportions or components 14, 20, 22, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 4d, 42, 46and Stl of the cap body 10. In a like manner, the stopper portion 12ahas components or elements 54a, 56a, 58a, 60a, 64a which are similargenerally and function in a like manner respectively to the componentsor portions 54, 56, 58, 60 and 64 of the stopper portion 12.

It will be noted that the provision of the flexible sealing assemblage,especially the skirt 54, will enable a satisfactory seal to be had atall times despite variations in the diameters of the wall portions 28and 46 as these accommodate different sizes of container neck due tomanufacturing tolerances thereof. Further, the appreciable length of theskirt 54 enhances the resilient action of the same in the abovesituation, and even wide or loose tolerances of the container will haveno effect on the orifice size (as at 68, FIG. 4).

Variations at the lip of the neck 16 will not adversely affect the sealby the bead 34, which engages the interior of the neck below the lipthereof.

The slope of the wall 46 provides a desirable yieldability to thebacking action offered by the wall 30 to the bead 34 whereby appreciablevariation in the diameter of the neck 16 will not impair the seal at thebead nor alter appreciably the orifice size at 42 or 68 (FIGS. 1 and 4).

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims,and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. In combination, a container neck having annular inner and outersurfaces and a plastic closure cap construction carried by the containerneck, said cap construction being constituted of, a molded resilientplastic piece comprising a cap body portion and a cooperable stopperportion, said body portion having means engaging the exterior of andmounting it on the container neck and having an annular inner wallengaging the interior of the container neck to seal thereagainst andfurther having a transverse bottom wall connected to and disposedinwardly of the lower portion of the inner wall and together therewithdefining an outwardly-opening recess, said bottom wall having adischarge orifice portion for dispensing the contents of a container onwhich the cap construction may be carried and the stopper portion havinga depending resilient sealing skirt receivable in said recess and asealing plug concurrently receivable in said orifice portion whereby adouble seal is effected when the stopper portion is in place on the 6cap body portion, said annular inner wall having a sealing surfaceengaged with the container neck and disposed closely adjacent the saidbottom wall for reinforcement thereby.

2. A combination as in claim 1, in which the annular inner wall has asmaller inside diameter at the mouth of the recess, and in which thedepending resilient skirt has a larger outside diameter at its bottomedge, thereby to effect a detent action when the skirt is in the saidrecess.

3. A combination as in claim 2, in which the depending skirt has anexternal annular sealing bead providing the said larger outsidediameter.

4. A combination as in claim 1 in which the said annular inner wall isprovided with an outwardly facing annular sealing bead engaged with theinside of the container neck and backed by said transverse bottom wallwhereby the seal effected by the bead is rendered more effective.

5. A combination as in claim 4, in which the mounting means comprises anouter annular depending sk rt having an inner annular detent bead forengagement with the exterior of the container neck to effect a sealthereto.

6. The combination of claim 5, in combination with a resilient plasticcontainer neck having an external detent bead cooperable with the saidinner detent bead.

7. A combination as in claim 4, in which the inner surface of the skirt,the outer surface of the inner wall and the inner surface of the orificeportion constitute parts of the inner wall area of the cap body portion.

8. A combination as in claim 1, in which the discharge orifice portionis tubular, and in which there are cooperable means on the sealing plugand orifice portion, providing a guide for facilitating insertion of theplug in the orifice portion.

9. A combination as in claim 1, in which the stopper portion has adepending outer sloping flange extending from the top of the resilientsealing skirt outward and downward for engagement with the said bodyportion.

10. In a plastic closure cap construction a molded resilient plasticpiece comprising a cap body portion having an annular outer dependingskirt adapted to extend around a container neck and provided with detentmeans arranged to engage cooperable means on said neck, and having adepending annular inner wall spaced inwardly from said skirt andprovided with an outwardly facing annular sealing head for engagementwith the inside of the container neck, said piece further having aninwardly extending transverse wall connected with said inner wall atlocations immediately adjacent the sealing head to reinforce the innerwall and bead and constitute a backing means therefor whereby the sealeffected by the bead is rendered more eifective.

11. A cap construction as in claim 10, in which the inwardly extendingtransverse wall is located at a level just below the said sealing bead.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,690,861 Tupper Oct. 5, 1954 2,823,837 Heinle Feb. 18, 1958 2,829,807Kirschenbaum Apr. 8, 1958 3,010,619 Gronemeyer et al Nov. 18 19613,059,816 Goldstein Oct. 23, 1962

1. IN COMBINATION, A CONTAINER NECK HAVING ANNULAR INNER AND OUTERSURFACES AND A PLASTIC CLOSURE CAP CONSTRUCTION CARRIED BY THE CONTAINERNECK, SAID CAP CONSTRUCTION BEING CONSTITUTED OF, A MOLDED RESILIENTPLASTIC PIECE COMPRISING A CAP BODY PORTION AND A COOPERABLE STOPPERPORTION, SAID BODY PORTION HAVING MEANS ENGAGING THE EXTERIOR OF ANDMOUNTING IT ON THE CONTAINER NECK AND HAVING AN ANNULAR INNER WALLENGAGING THE INTERIOR OF THE CONTAINER NECK TO SEAL THEREAGAINST ANDFURTHER HAVING A TRANSVERSE BOTTOM WALL CONNECTED TO AND DISPOSEDINWARDLY OF THE LOWER PORTION OF THE INNER WALL AND TOGETHER THEREWITHDEFINING AN OUTWARDLY-OPENING RECESS, SAID BOTTOM WALL HAVING ADISCHARGE ORIFICE PORTION FOR DISPENSING THE CONTENTS OF A CONTAINER ONWHICH THE CAP CONSTRUCTION MAY BE CARRIED AND THE STOPPER PORTION HAVINGA DEPENDING RESILIENT SEALING SKIRT RECEIVABLE IN SAID RECESS AND ASEALING PLUG CONCURRENTLY RECEIVABLE IN SAID ORIFICE PORTION WHEREBY ADOUBLE SEAL IS EFFECTED WHEN THE STOPPER PORTION IS IN PLACE ON THE CAPBODY PORTION, SAID ANNULAR INNER WALL HAVING A SEALING SURFACES ENGAGEDWITH THE CONTAINER NECK AND DISPOSED CLOSELY ADJACENT THE SAID BOTTOMWALL FOR REINFORCEMENT THEREBY.